| NEWS...NEWS...OLD & NEW... |
Past Formation Chair
Minister, St. Anthony of Nagasaki Fraternity
9408 Presley Place
Lanham, MD 20706
301-577-7852 (H) 301-405-9116(W)
FAX 301-306-9391
heleni56@msn.com
Web Page:
http://www.oocities.org/buchlieber/Helenis_Page.index.html
NOTE: If you would like to contribute any news, or short articles from your fraternity concerning formation, to be posted in the Cortona page, please e-mail to Heleni's address above.
In order not to interfere with the Catch the Fire Workshops (which incidentally have been a great success!) we decided to wait until next year to plan this much needed retreat. We will keep everyone posted!
Keep the fire burning!
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1999 All Commissions Conference -- Jenny Moreira's Report |
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CORTONA REGION'S FORMATION DIRECTORS MEET On October 30, 1999 at the Franciscan Monastery, the area's Formation Directors met during the Regional Executive Committee meeting. Those present heard Formation Team member Jenny Moreira speak about her experiences at the 1999 All Commissions meeting. Jenny shared many of her insights gained during the conference, as well as national formation news with the group. A lively discussion centered on the new directives to allow a period of three months pre-Inquiry phase in order that the fraternity members and the interested enquiry candidate get to know each other well. Adherence to the full year of candidacy is also required. Temporary profession is also an option when either the candidate or the executive council have any doubts about the person's vocation to the Franciscan Order. Heleni encouraged the directors to review the new edition of Catch Me a Rainbow Too and suggested that a variety of resources be used for formal and continuing formation with attention given to the level of knowledge and maturity of the group. Remember to treat candidates as adult learners, and take also into consideration the different personality types. Candidates should be trained to be leaders in the SFO. One suggestion was to have one computer-savvy person in the fraternity to print materials from the Cortona Formation or the NAFRA web pages to share with the fraternity's executive council. Heleni encouraged the directors to center their formation sessions on Scriptures. Gospel to Life and Life to Gospel -- is Francis's injunction to us. Let us not forget to be firmly grounded on the Word of God. Every Formation Director should have a copy of the Guidelines for Initial Formation in the Secular Franciscan Order in the United States available for $5.00/copy from P.O. Box 5815, Akron, OH 44372. Another important resource is the Handbook for Secular Franciscan Servant Leadership also prepared by the National Formation Commission which should be part of a Fraternity's library. Both of these books are also available from Phone 785-227-2364; FAX 785-227-3360 Regions are now urged to call their teams "Commissions" thus ours is now the St. Margaret of Cortona Region Formation Commission of which Heleni Pedersoli is Chair. Heleni encouraged the directors to contact the Commission members in their area of the Region for any kind of help with their formation programs. See the list with addresses, phone numbers and e-mails on this page. PAX ET BONUM! 11/02/99 |
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NEW LIST! Heleni has created a Cortona Formation List to facilitate communication, sharing, and discussion among Formation Directors. If you are interested in joining, please click and follow the instructions below. |